Preparing for storm season in Australia

Summer in Australia means storm season. If you didn’t know that already, you’re going to be experiencing it very soon. With our wet season lasting about six months between November and March, temperatures rise up to 30 and 50 degrees Celsius which causes high humidity and large amounts of water in the air resulting in flooding.

Here’s a brief checklist to help you prepare for the storm season ahead:

1. Prepare yourself

Do you and/or your family have an emergency plan and kit ready? If not, implement one as soon as possible.

Do you have a supply of food that doesn’t require refrigeration, cooking or little water?

Do you have water?

Do you have an emergency kit? For a comprehensive list of essential emergency kit items, click here.

Do you have a list of emergency contacts?

Emergency Services: 000

SES: 132 500

Energex: 13 62 62

2. Prepare your house

Clear out your gutters and downpipes and trim overhanging tree branches. Do not attempt to trim branches near power lines. Having a cleared out gutter ensures water is able to drain away as quickly as possible.

Remove loose items from your yard as these are potential projectiles during a storm. If you need to, tie items down.

Ensure your roof is in good condition. Repair or replace damaged tiles, eaves and gutters.

3. Insurance

Do you have car, home and contents insurance? Flooding during storm season is common and whilst the flooding itself may happen within minutes, the effects will last years. So check with your insurance provider to find out if you’re covered and upgrade if you need to.

4. Be aware

Check the weather forecast daily so that you are aware of what’s coming your way.

Download the Early Warning Network App on your phone to receive alerts and warnings. You can even share these warnings via text and social media.

5. Children and pets

Children may be confused and frightened during heavy storms and flooding, so it is best to prepare them for all types of scenarios. Here are some tips and tricks for you to use when explaining storm safety.

Pets are part of the family so make sure you have a pet emergency plan as well. Click here to get started.